Recording medium having data structure for managing reproduction of still pictures recorded thereon and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses

ABSTRACT

The recording medium includes a data structure with presentation data stored in a data area of the recording medium. The presentation data is divided into still picture units with each still picture unit including at least one still picture and associated related data.

DOMESTIC PRIORITY

[0001] The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 on U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/445,425 filed Feb. 7, 2003; the contentsof which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FOREIGN PRIORITY

[0002] The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 onKorean Application No. 10-2003-003784 filed Jan. 20, 2003 and KoreanApplication No. 10-2003-009485 filed Feb. 14, 2003; the contents of bothof which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a recording medium having a datastructure for managing reproduction of at least still pictures recordedthereon as well as methods and apparatuses for reproduction andrecording.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0005] The standardization of new high-density read only and rewritableoptical disks capable of recording large amounts of high-quality videoand audio data has been progressing rapidly and new optical disk relatedproducts are expected to be commercially available in the near future.The Blu-ray Disc Rewritable (BD-RE) and Blu-ray Disk ROM (BD-ROM) areexamples of these new optical disks.

[0006] While the standard for BD-RE has been published, thestandardization for high-density read-only optical disks such as theBlu-ray ROM (BD-ROM) is still under way. Consequently, an effective datastructure for managing reproduction of still pictures recorded on thehigh-density read-only optical disk such as a BD-ROM is not yetavailable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The recording medium according to the present invention includesa data structure for managing reproduction of at least still picturesrecorded on the recording medium.

[0008] In one exemplary embodiment, a data area stores presentationdata, which is divided into a number of still picture units. Each stillpicture unit includes at least one still picture and associated relateddata, and the related data does not include audio data. For example, therelated data may include graphics data, subtitle data, etc.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the presentation data is multiplexedinto a transport stream on a still picture unit by still picture unitbasis. At least one navigation area of the recording medium includes aclip information file. The clip information file includes at least oneentry point map, and the entry point map includes at least one entrypoint providing at least an address of a still picture in the transportstream.

[0010] In another exemplary embodiment, each elementary stream of thestill picture and related data is aligned within the still picture unit.Here, each elementary stream is a packetized elementary stream.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the data area stores the presentationdata in a first clip file, and stores audio data in a second clip file.In this embodiment, a playlist area of the recording medium stores atleast one playlist, and the playlist includes at least one playitem andat least one sub-playitem. The playitem provides navigation informationfor reproducing the presentation data from the first clip file, and thesub-playitem providing navigation information for reproducing the audiodata from the second clip.

[0012] In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, adata area of the recording medium stores presentation data in a firstclip file and audio data in a second clip file. The presentation data isdivided into a number of still picture units, and each still pictureunit includes at least one still picture and related data.

[0013] The present invention further provides apparatuses and methodsfor recording and reproducing the data structure according to thepresent invention, and recording and reproducing slide shows accordingto the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The above features and other advantages of the present inventionwill be more clearly understood from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a recording mediumfile or data structure according to the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a recording medium having thedata structure of FIG. 1 stored thereon;

[0017]FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed embodiment of portions of the datastructure in FIG. 1 and method of managing still images for ahigh-density recording medium;

[0018]FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a still image file;

[0019]FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the relationship between aplaylist and at least one clip file according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0020]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a detailed embodiment of portions of thedata structure in FIG. 1 and a method for managing still images of ahigh-density recording medium according to the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 8 illustrates physical allocation of transport streamsincluding still picture on a high-density optical disk recording medium;

[0022]FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of a partial structure ofan optical disc apparatus where the present invention is applied;

[0023]FIG. 10 illustrates a detailed structure of a first embodiment ofan optical disc apparatus where the present invention is applied;

[0024]FIG. 11 is a detailed structure of a second embodiment of anoptical disc apparatus where the present invention is applied; and

[0025]FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of a recording andreproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0026] In order that the invention may be fully understood, exemplaryembodiments thereof will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

[0027] A high-density recording medium such as a high density opticaldisk, for example, a Blu-Ray ROM (BD-ROM), BD-RE, etc. in accordancewith the invention may have a file or data structure for managingreproduction of video and audio data as shown in FIG. 1. Some aspects ofthe data structure according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1are the same as the well-known BD-RE standard, as such these aspectswill be reviewed, but not described in great detail.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the root directory contains at least one BDdirectory. The BD directory includes general files (not shown), aPLAYLIST directory in which playlist files (e.g., *.mpls) are stored, aCLIPINF directory in which clip information files (*.clpi) are stored,and a STREAM directory in which MPEG2-formatted A/V stream clip files(*.m2ts), corresponding to the clip information files, are stored.

[0029] The STREAM directory includes MPEG2-formatted A/V stream filescalled clip streams files or just clip files. The A/V stream includessource packets of video and audio data. For example, a source packet ofvideo data includes a header and a transport packet. A source packetincludes a source packet number, which is generally a sequentiallyassigned number that serves as an address for accessing the sourcepacket. Transport packets include a packet identifier (PID). The PIDidentifies the sequence of transport packets to which a transport packetbelongs. Each transport packet in the sequence will have the same PID.

[0030] The CLIPINF directory includes a clip information file associatedwith each A/V stream file. The clip information file indicates, amongother things, the type of A/V stream associated therewith, sequenceinformation, program information and timing information. The sequenceinformation describes the arrival time basis (ATC) and system time basis(STC) sequences. For example, the sequence information indicates, amongother things, the number of sequences, the beginning and ending timeinformation for each sequence, the address of the first source packet ineach sequence and the PID of the transport packets in each sequence. Asequence of source packets in which the contents of a program isconstant is called a program sequence. The program informationindicates, among other things, the number of program sequences, thestarting address for each program sequence, and the PID(s) of transportpackets in a program sequence.

[0031] The timing information is referred to as characteristic pointinformation (CPI). One form of CPI is the entry point (EP) map. The EPmap maps a presentation time stamp (e.g., on an arrival time basis (ATC)and/or a system time basis (STC)) to a source packet address (i.e.,source packet number). The presentation time stamp (PTS) and the sourcepacket number (SPN) are related to an entry point in the AV stream;namely, the PTS and its related SPN point to an entry point on the AVstream. The packet pointed to is often referred to as the entry pointpacket.

[0032] The PLAYLIST directory includes one or more playlist files. Theconcept of a playlist has been introduced to promote ease ofediting/assembling clips for playback. A playlist file is a collectionof playing intervals in the clips. Each playing interval is referred toas a playitem. The playlist file, among other things, identifies eachplayitem forming the playlist, and each playitem, among other things, isa pair of IN-point and OUT-point that point to positions on a time axisof the clip file (e.g., presentation time stamps on an ATC or STCbasis). The playlist file may also include sub-playitems that alsoprovide a pair of IN-point and OUT-point that point to positions on atime axis of a clip file. Expressed another way, the playlist fileidentifies playitems and sub-playitems, each playitem or sub-playitempoints to a clip file or portion thereof and identifies the clipinformation file associated with the clip file. The clip informationfile is used, among other things, to map the playitems to the clip fileof source packets. Playlists may also include playlist marks which pointto specific places (e.g., a specific address) in a clip file

[0033] The general information files (not shown) provide generalinformation for managing the reproduction of the A/V streams recorded onthe optical disk.

[0034] In addition to illustrating the data structure of the recordingmedium according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1represents the areas of the recording medium. For example, the generalinformation files are recorded in one or more general information areas,the playlist directory is recorded in one or more playlist directoryareas, each playlist in a playlist directory is recorded in one or moreplaylist areas of the recording medium, etc. FIG. 2 illustrates anexample of a recording medium having the data structure of FIG. 1 storedthereon. As shown, the recording medium includes a file systeminformation area, a data base area and an A/V stream area. The data basearea includes a general information file and playlist information areaand a clip information area. The general information file and playlistinformation area have the general information files recorded in ageneral information file area thereof, and the PLAYLIST directory andplaylist files recorded in a playlist information area thereof. The clipinformation area has the CLIPINFO directory and associated clipinformation files recorded therein. The A/V stream area has the A/Vstreams for the various titles recorded therein.

[0035] Video and audio data are typically organized as individualtitles; for example, different movies represented by the video and audiodata are organized as different titles. Furthermore, a title may beorganized into individual chapters in much the same way a book is oftenorganized into chapters.

[0036] Because of the large storage capacity of the newer, high-densityrecording media such as BD-ROM and BD-RE optical disks, differenttitles, various versions of a title or portions of a title may berecorded, and therefore, reproduced from the recording media. Forexample, video data representing different camera angles may be recordedon the recording medium. As another example, versions of title orportions thereof associated with different languages may be recorded onthe recording medium. As a still further example, a director's versionand a theatrical version of a title may be recorded on the recordingmedium. Or, an adult version, young adult version and young childversion (i.e., different parental control versions) of a title orportions of a title may be recorded on the recording medium. Eachversion, camera angle, etc. represents a different reproduction path,and the video data in these instances is referred to as multiplereproduction path video data.

[0037] Because of the large storage capacity of the newer, high-densityrecording media such as BD-ROM still images or pictures may be recordedand reproduced in an organized and/or user interactive fashion, forexample, as slideshows. The data structure for managing reproduction ofstill pictures for a high-density recording medium in accordance withembodiments of the present invention will be described along withmethods and apparatuses according to embodiments of the presentinvention for recording and reproducing still images.

[0038]FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a data structure and method ofmanaging still images for a high-density recording medium in accordancewith the invention. A plurality of still images or pictures are storedin an individual still image file on a high-density recording medium,such as a BD-ROM, and a playlist includes navigation information forplayback control of the still images.

[0039] The navigation information of the playlist is also associatedwith movie video or audio data recorded in a particular area of a clipA/V stream. The playlist indicates at what points in the movie video oraudio data to reproduce a still picture. Namely, the playlist links theclip A/V stream with the still image file. The playlist may also providea duration for displaying each still picture, or this information may besupplied by a clip information file. The duration may be finite orinfinite.

[0040] When, based on reproduction of the playlist, a reproducingapparatus finds that a still image is associated with movie video oraudio data during reproduction of the movie video or audio data, thereproducing apparatus obtains the still image from the still image file.The reproducing apparatus then performs a still operation to display thestill image for a limited duration or indefinitely based on thepresentation duration information for the still image. When anindefinite duration is indicated, the still picture is displayed untiluser input is received.

[0041] As will be appreciated from the above and following disclosure,still images may be displayed as a sequential slideshow, arandom/shuffle slideshow, or a browsable slideshow. A sequentialslideshow involves the reproduction of still images having limitedduration in the order set forth by the playlist. This reproduction ofthe still images may also occur in synchronized reproduction with audiodata. A browsable slide show involves reproduction of still imageshaving infinite duration in an order set forth by the playlist.Reproduction proceeds to a previous or subsequent still image based onuser input. A random/shuffle slideshow is a form of sequential orbrowsable slideshow in which the order to reproduce the still images israndomized.

[0042]FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a still image file. In thisexample, a still image or a group of still images form a presentationunit. A presentation unit may be formed, for example, of still imageshaving a common presentation attribute. For example in FIG. 4, stillimages #1˜#k that have the same presentation duration (duration #1) aregrouped into presentation unit #1 and still images #k+1˜#n that have thesame presentation duration (duration #2) are grouped into presentationunit #2. While duration has been given as an example of a presentationattribute, it will be understood that the present invention is notlimited to this example.

[0043]FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the relationship between aplaylist and at least one clip file according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the playlist includes navigationinformation for playback control of a first and second presentation unit(e.g., the first and second presentation unit illustrated in FIG. 4). Aplayitem included in the playlist is used for playback control of astill picture stream and related data such as graphic & subtitlestreams. A sub-playitem included in the playlist is used for playbackcontrol of audio data associated with the still images. As shown, theaudio data is recorded in a separate file from the still picture andrelated data, and is therefore not included in the related data. Theaudio data may be reproduced in either a synchronized or unsychronizedfashion with the associated still images.

[0044] The playlist also includes a playlist mark, called hereinafter astill picture group mark (SPG_mark), for each of the presentation units.A still picture group mark SPG_mark points to the beginning of apresentation unit, which includes one or more still images.

[0045] The still picture stream and the related data streams (e.g., thegraphic & subtitle streams) are packetized into Packetized ElementaryStream (PES) packets on a still image basis. Namely, each PES packet ofthe still picture stream includes a single still picture. The PESpackets are encoded into MPEG2 transport packets and then multiplexedinto a transport stream. This will be described in greater detail withrespect to the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0046] Navigation information for linked reproduction of a still imageand graphic & subtitle data associated with the still image is recordedin the PES packets of the still image and the associated graphic &subtitle data. As shown in FIG. 5, a unique picture ID corresponding tothe picture number of a still image may be included in the PES packet ofthe still image and the PES packets of the associated graphic &subtitle.

[0047] A reproducing apparatus may effectively perform playback controlof still images of presentation units grouped using the still picturegroup marks (SPG_marks) included in the playlist. Also, the reproducingapparatus performs linked playback of a still image and graphic &subtitle associated with the still image by detecting the unique pictureID of the still image. During reproduction of the still pictures andrelated data, the reproducing apparatus further reproduces an audiostream indicated by the sub-playitem.

[0048]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an embodiment of a data structure andmethod for managing still images of a high-density recording medium suchas a BD-ROM similar to that described above with respect to FIG. 5. Themost notable difference being that the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 doesnot include presentation units.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 6, the still picture stream and the related datastreams (e.g., the graphic & subtitle streams) are packetized into PESpackets on a still image basis. Namely, each PES packet of the stillpicture stream includes a single still picture, and the associated PESpackets of the related data include the related data associated with thestill picture (e.g., for reproduction in synchronization with theassociated still picture). The still picture together with related datato be reproduced in synchronization therewith are grouped into a stillpicture unit. On a still picture unit basis, the still picture streamand related data streams are multiplexed into a still picture file ofMPEG2 transport streams.

[0050]FIG. 6 further shows a clip information file corresponding to thestill picture file. The clip information file includes an entry pointmap (EP_MAP). Individual entry points (EP #1˜#k) in the EP map containrespective navigation information for accessing a head recordingposition of a corresponding still picture unit. The navigationinformation, for example, includes source packet number entry pointstart (SPN_EP_Start) information indicating the start recording positionof the corresponding still picture unit.

[0051]FIG. 7 illustrates a playlist for play control of the stillpicture file discussed above with respect to FIG. 6. As shown, aplayitem (PlayItem) in the playlist contains in-picture (IN_picture)information and out-picture (OUT_picture) information correspondingrespectively to the start position and end position of the still imagesin the still picture file to reproduce. A sub-playitem (SubPlayItem) inthe playlist contains sub-playitem in-time (SubPlayItem_IN_time)information and sub-playitem out-time (SubPlayItem_OUT_time) informationfor a separate audio file to be reproduced in association with the stillpicture file. The audio data may be reproduced in either a synchronizedor unsychronized fashion with the associated still images.

[0052] The playlist further includes a playlist mark, referred tohereinafter as still mark, pointing to each still picture. Thepresentation duration information for the still picture and related dataincluded in a still picture unit may be recorded in the still markcorresponding to the still picture unit. Alternatively or additionally,the presentation duration information may be contained in the playitem.

[0053] The still marks are particularly useful when skipping betweenpictures during a browsable slideshow. It will further be appreciatedthat the still picture file or portions thereof can be simultaneouslyassociated with a number of playlists with presentation durationsdifferent from each other.

[0054]FIG. 8 illustrates the physical allocation of the MPEG2 transportstream on, for example, an optical disk. As shown, each portion of theMPEG2 transport stream corresponding to a still picture unit is recordedin alignment with a physical recording unit, such as an error correctioncode block (ECC Block) unit or sector unit, of the optical disk. Forexample, if the recording size of the transport stream corresponding toa second still picture unit does not fill the physical recording unit,the unfilled region is filled or stuffed with null data.

[0055]FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of a partial structure ofan optical disc apparatus where the present invention is applied. Asshown, the optical disc apparatus includes an optical pickup 111 forreproducing data from the an optical disk. A VDP (Video Disc Play)system 112 controls the reproduction operation of the optical pickup 111and demodulates the data reproduced by the optical pickup 111. The VDP112 produces an AV stream, which may also be fed to a D/A converter 13to generate an analog version of the AV stream.

[0056] The VDP system 112 controls the optical pickup 111 anddemodulates the reproduced data based on user input received from a userinterface and the navigation and management information recorded on theoptical disk in accordance with the present invention. For example, theVDP system 112 makes reference to still marks included in a playlist andan entry point map included in a clip information file as describedabove to reproduce a still picture file. Namely, the VDP system 112reads out a still picture, graphic data, and subtitle data of each stillpicture unit according to the order of entry points (EP #1, #2, . . . )recorded in the entry point map. Then, the VDP system 112 conducts aseries of operations for reproducing slideshows, which may be reproducedfor a fixed time duration according to the presentation durationinformation included in the still marks or reproduced in the form ofskipped reproduction in units of the still picture unit corresponding toeach of the still marks according to the key input of the user.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 10, the VDP system 112 may comprise a switch120, track buffer 121, TS DEMUX 122, video buffer 123, graphic buffer124, subtitle buffer 125, audio buffer 126, video decoder 127, graphicdecoder 128, subtitle decoder 129, audio decoder 130, PCR counter 131,and microcomputer 132.

[0058] The microcomputer 132 controls the operation of the switch 120according to the key input of a user or presentation durationinformation, thereby selectively feeding a still picture (V), graphicdata (G), and subtitle data (ST) into the track buffer 121. The TS DEMUX122 makes reference to the packet ID (PID) of the data streamtemporarily stored in the track buffer and distributes still picturedata, graphic data, and subtitle data into the video buffer 123, graphicbuffer 124, and subtitle buffer 125, respectively.

[0059] The video decoder 127 decodes the still picture data, the graphicdecoder 128 decodes the graphic data, and the subtitle decoder 129decodes the subtitle data. As a result, a single still picture andrelated graphic and subtitle data are reproduced.

[0060] Similarly, the microcomputer 132 controls the operation of theswitch 120 and selectively feeds audio data (A) read out from an opticaldisc into the track buffer 121. The TS DEMUX 122 makes reference to thepacket ID (PID) of the audio data stream temporarily stored in the trackbuffer, thereby separating the audio data into the audio buffer 126.

[0061] The audio decoder 130 decodes and outputs the decoded audio data.At this stage, the presentation time stamp (PTS) information separatedby the TS DEMUX 121 is fed into the audio decoder 130. Also, the PCRcounter 131 counts a program clock reference (PCR) information separatedfrom the TS DEMUX 121 and the PCR count value is fed into the audiodecoder 130. Because the use of PTSs and PCRs is well-known in the art,their inclusion in the data recorded on the optical disk has not beendescribed in detail.

[0062] The audio decoder 130 reproduces the audio data when the PCRcount value coincides with the PTS value. The PCR count value and PTSvalue are fed only into the audio decoder 130, thereby controlling thetime of audio reproduction.

[0063] Accordingly, the optical disc apparatus, by making common use ofthe switch 120, track buffer 121, and TS DEMUX 122, can normally conductslideshow operations of reproducing a still picture file and audio filerecorded separately in a read-only Blu-ray disc in association with eachother.

[0064]FIG. 11 illustrates another detailed embodiment of the VDP system112. This embodiment is the same as the embodiment of FIG. 10 except forfurther including a PTS adder 133 and associated connections thereto. Asdescribed above, the microcomputer 132 makes reference to the key inputof the user or presentation duration information, and thus controls theoperations of the track buffer 121 and the switch 120. This sameinformation is used for control of the PTS adder 133.

[0065] The PTS adder 133 makes reference to the PTS of the audio datastored temporarily in the track buffer and thus additionally records apseudo PTS, which is the same as the audio PTS, into the PES packets ofthe still picture data, graphic data, and subtitle data.

[0066] The audio PTS separated from the TS DEMUX 121 is routed to theaudio decoder 130, and program clock reference (PCR) informationseparated from said TS DEMUX is counted by said PCR counter 131. The PCRcount value is fed into audio decoder 130, and the audio decoder 130reproduces the audio data when the PCR count value coincides with thePTS.

[0067] The pseudo PTS separated by the TS DEMUX 121 and the PCR countvalue are also distributed to the video decoder 127, graphic decoder128, and subtitle decoder 129. When the PCR count value coincides withthe pseudo PTS, the still picture data, graphic data, and subtitle data,are respectively reproduced.

[0068] Accordingly, the optical disc apparatus, by making common use ofthe switch 120, track buffer 121, and TS DEMUX 122, can normally conductslideshow operations of reproducing a still picture file and audio filerecorded separately in a read-only Blu-ray disc in association with eachother.

[0069]FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment of anoptical disk recording and reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention. As shown, an AV encoder 9 receives and encodes data(e.g., still image data, audio data, etc.). The AV encoder 9 outputs theencoded data along with coding information and stream attributeinformation. A multiplexer 8 multiplexes the encoded data based on thecoding information and stream attribute information to create, forexample, an MPEG-2 transport stream. A source packetizer 7 packetizesthe transport packets from the multiplexer 8 into source packets inaccordance with the audio/video format of the optical disk. As shown inFIG. 8, the operations of the AV encoder 9, the multiplexer 8 and thesource packetizer 7 are controlled by a controller 10. The controller 10receives user input on the recording operation, and provides controlinformation to AV encoder 9, multiplexer 8 and the source packetizer 7.For example, the controller 10 instructs the AV encoder 9 on the type ofencoding to perform, instructs the multiplexer 8 on the transport streamto create, and instructs the source packetizer 7 on the source packetformat. The controller 10 further controls a drive 3 to record theoutput from the source packetizer 7 on the optical disk.

[0070] The controller 10 also creates the navigation and managementinformation for managing reproduction of the data being recorded on theoptical disk. For example, based on information received via the userinterface (e.g., instruction set saved on disk, provided over anintranet or internet by a computer system, etc.) the controller 10controls the drive 3 to record one or more of the data structures ofFIGS. 1-8 on the optical disk.

[0071] During reproduction, the controller 10 controls the drive 3 toreproduce this data structure. Based on the information containedtherein, as well as user input received over the user interface (e.g.,control buttons on the recording and reproducing apparatus or a remoteassociated with the apparatus), the controller 10 controls the drive 3to reproduce the data from the optical disk. For example, as discussedabove with respect to the embodiments of the present invention, a stillimage or still images may be reproduced in association with audio databased on the navigation information. Furthermore, an image or group ofimages may be reproduced as a slideshow or portion of a slideshow. Asalso discussed, a slideshow may be synchronized, browsable, etc.

[0072] The reproduced source packets are received by a sourcedepacketizer 4 and converted into a data stream (e.g., an MPEG-2transport packet stream). A demultiplexer 5 demultiplexes the datastream into encoded data. An AV decoder 6 decodes the encoded data toproduce the original data that was feed to the AV encoder 9. Duringreproduction, the controller 10 controls the operation of the sourcedepacketizer 4, demultiplexer 5 and AV decoder 6. The controller 10receives user input on the reproducing operation, and provides controlinformation to AV decoder 6, demultiplexer 5 and the source packetizer4. For example, the controller 10 instructs the AV decoder 9 on the typeof decoding to perform, instructs the demultiplexer 5 on the transportstream to demultiplex, and instructs the source depacketizer 4 on thesource packet format.

[0073] While FIG. 12 has been described as a recording and reproducingapparatus, it will be understood that only a recording or only areproducing apparatus may be provided using those portions of FIG. 12providing the recording or reproducing function.

[0074] As will be appreciated from the forgoing disclosure, the presentinvention provides a recording medium having a data structure formanaging still images recorded on a high-density recording medium (e.g.,a high-density optical disk such as a BD-ROM). For example, the datastructure allows for displaying still images and possibly audio data invarious ways.

[0075] The method of managing still images for a high-density recordingmedium in accordance with the invention provides various still controloperations and allows effective linked reproduction of still imagesalong with associated subtitle data or graphic images.

[0076] As apparent from the above description, the present inventionprovides methods and apparatuses for recording a data structure on ahigh density recording medium for managing still images recorded on therecording medium.

[0077] The above description further provides methods and apparatus forreproducing still images recorded on a high density recording mediumbased on a data structure, also recorded on the high density recordingmedium, for managing the reproduction of still images.

[0078] While the invention has been disclosed with respect to a limitednumber of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the benefit ofthis disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications and variationsthere from. For example, while described with respect to a Blu-ray ROMoptical disk in several instances, the present invention is not limitedto this standard of optical disk or to optical disks. It is intendedthat all such modifications and variations fall within the spirit andscope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording medium having a data structure formanaging reproduction of still images, comprising: a data area storingpresentation data, the presentation data being divided into a number ofstill picture units, each still picture unit including at least onestill picture and associated related data, the related data notincluding audio data.
 2. The recording medium of claim 1, wherein therelated data in at least one still picture unit includes graphics data.3. The recording medium of claim 1, wherein the related data in at leastone still picture unit includes subtitle data.
 4. The recording mediumof claim 1, wherein the presentation data is multiplexed into atransport stream.
 5. The recording medium of claim 4, wherein thepresentation data is multiplexed into a transport stream on a stillpicture unit by still picture unit basis.
 6. The recording medium ofclaim 5, wherein each still picture unit is aligned with a physicalrecording unit of the recording medium.
 7. The recording medium of claim6, wherein the recording medium is an optical disk and the physicalrecording unit is one of a sector and an error correction code block. 8.The recording medium of claim 6, wherein at least one physical recordingunit not filled by the associated still picture unit is filled withstuffed data.
 9. The recording medium of claim 5, further comprising: atleast one navigation area including a clip information file, the clipinformation file including at least one entry point map, the entry pointmap including at least one entry point providing at least an address ofa still picture in the transport stream.
 10. The recording medium ofclaim 5, wherein the entry point map includes an entry point associatedwith each still picture unit.
 11. The recording medium of claim 1,wherein each elementary stream of the still picture and associatedrelated data is aligned within the still picture unit.
 12. The recordingmedium of claim 11, wherein each elementary stream is a packetizedelementary stream.
 13. The recording medium of claim 12, wherein eachstill picture unit includes one packet from each packetized elementarystream.
 14. The recording medium of claim 1, wherein the data areastores the presentation data in a first clip file, and stores audio datain a second clip file.
 15. The recording medium of claim 14, furthercomprising: a playlist area storing at least one playlist, the playlistincluding at least one playitem and at least one sub-playitem, theplayitem providing navigation information for reproducing thepresentation data from the first clip file, the sub-playitem providingnavigation information for reproducing the audio data from the secondclip file.
 16. The recording medium of claim 1, wherein each stillpicture unit includes only one still picture.
 17. A recording mediumhaving a data structure for managing reproduction of still images,comprising: a data area storing presentation data in a first clip fileand audio data in a second clip file, the presentation data beingdivided into a number of still picture units, each still picture unitincluding at least one still picture and associated related data. 18.The recording medium of claim 17, further comprising: a playlist areastoring at least one playlist, the playlist including at least oneplayitem and at least one sub-playitem, the playitem providingnavigation information for reproducing the presentation data from thefirst clip file, the sub-playitem providing navigation information forreproducing the audio data from the second clip file.
 19. A method ofrecording a data structure for managing reproduction of at least onestill image on a recording medium, comprising: recording presentationdata on the recording medium, the presentation data being divided into anumber of still picture units, each still picture unit including atleast one still picture and associated related data, the related datanot including audio data.
 20. A method of reproducing a data structurefor managing reproduction of at least one still image recorded on arecording medium, comprising: reproducing presentation data from therecording medium, the presentation data being divided into a number ofstill picture units, each still picture unit including at least onestill picture and associated related data, the related data notincluding audio data.
 21. An apparatus for recording a data structurefor managing reproduction of at least one still image on a recordingmedium, comprising: a driver for driving an optical recording device torecord data on the recording medium; a controller for controlling thedriver to record presentation data on the recording medium, thepresentation data being divided into a number of still picture units,each still picture unit including at least one still picture andassociated related data, the related data not including audio data. 22.An apparatus for reproducing a data structure for managing reproductionof at least one still image recorded on a recording medium, comprising:a driver for driving an optical reproducing device to reproduce datarecorded on the recording medium; a controller for controlling thedriver to reproduce presentation data from the recording medium, thepresentation data being divided into a number of still picture units,each still picture unit including at least one still picture andassociated related data, the related data not including audio data.